Soundwave 2014 in Sydney

''My dear friend Dave Brockie, artist, musician, and lead singer of Gwar passed away at approximately 6.50pm (US EST) Sunday March 23, 2014. His body was found Sunday by his band mate at his home in Richmond, VA," Flanagan said.

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"Richmond authorities have confirmed his death and next of kin has been notified. A full autopsy will be performed. He was 50 years old, born August 30, 1963.

''My main focus right now is to look after my band mates and his family. More information regarding his death shall be released as the details are confirmed."

Gwar's David Brockie as 'Oderus Urungus'.

Former Gwar guitarist Steve Douglas wrote on Facebook: "I have had a few bad days in my life but this one truly ranks right up there.

"Dave Brockie, I do not know what happened to you yet, but I know you are gone and it is hurting very badly!"

Brockie co-founded Gwar, billed on its website as "Earth's only openly extra-terrestrial rock band," in the 1980s with fellow art students at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The Grammy-nominated group gained a worldwide cult following for its mix of thrash metal, grotesque costumes and outrageous stage shows.

They recently visited Australia for this year's Soundwave festival, where they continued to shock with fake blood, sprayed from orifices including an enormous fake penis, a gore-encrusted cannon and the decapitated head of a Tony Abbott effigy.

In Melbourne, fans were encouraged not to crowd surf at the festival but when Gwar frontman "Oderus Urungus" pointed his plastic sword towards the crowd all the rules suddenly changed.

Performing as "Oderus Urungus", Brockie wore an elaborate costume of a horned mask, shoulder pads, massive helmets and armor with blades jutting out of it.

Described by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper in 2007 as "the mutant child of early '80s hair music," Gwar's onstage antics often included simulated urination, dismemberment of lifesize puppets and lots of fake blood. It released its latest album last year.

In a profanity-laced television interview produced by this year's Soundwave music festival, Brockie said he was less than sober on stage.

"For me, being wasted is not being wasted. When I'm sober, that's being wasted, literally," he said while in full costume, a bottle in one armored hand.

"They're like, 'Oderus, you don't have to be drunk to perform.' I'm like, 'What the f--- are you talking about?'" he said, laughing.

Brockie called the late Bon Scott of Australian hard rock band AC/DC "my favorite performer in the history of metal. He's the greatest lead singer ever."

Don Drakulich, another founder of Gwar and one of its costume and prop makers, said he knew little about Brockie's death except that his roommate found the body.

"It's very sad, and I'm shocked," said Drakulich, who no longer tours with the band.